Related Media

Charlotte County deputy fatally shot responding to call

Published: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 4:02 p.m.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY - The first Charlotte County sheriff's deputy to be shot and killed in the line of duty was "immediately met with gunfire" from a man known as a marksman while responding to a domestic disturbance call, officials said.

Sgt. Michael Wilson was a 20-year veteran of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

PHOTO PROVIDED / CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Facts

HELPING THE FAMILY

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said trusts are being set up for the family for the family of Sgt. Michael Wilson, who was shot and killed while responding to an emergency call Monday night. To facilitate donations, the Sheriff's Office has set up a Paypal account that can be accessed from the Sheriff's Office main public website at through this hyperlink. Or the account can be found HERE.

Sgt. Michael Wilson, 42, a 22-year veteran of the sheriff's office and father of three young children, was fatally shot Monday night at the Lakes of Tuscana Apartments in Port Charlotte.

Wilson, the first officer to arrive in response to the emergency call, was shot in the stairwell of the complex about 8:30 p.m, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said during an emotional news conference Tuesday.

He was able to call for assistance after being hit but Wilson was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities said the shooter, 49-year-old Jay Vanko, later killed himself.

"Wilson took one shot to the chest," Prummell said. "The suspect shot down the stairwell and was able to shoot one exposed spot not covered by his vest."

The sheriff described the stairwell as a "fatal funnel."

Deputies had been to the scene before on domestic calls but not for anything violent.

The unidentified emergency caller indicated that there were weapons in the residence, but said they were locked in a safe. There were no indications that weapons were involved in the disturbance that was described as physical, or that the suspect was armed.

Little is known about Vanko. He had no criminal record that sheriff's investigators could find. He ran a lawn care company in Port Charlotte, and declared bankruptcy in 2011.

Prummell said Vanko participated in shooting competitions. Vanko's wife was in the apartment at the time of the shooting and his son was outside.

Investigators found two weapons in the apartment and are still trying to determine which was used on Wilson. Prummell would not elaborate on the type of weapons found.

The sheriff said he notified Wilson's wife, Joanne, of the shooting.

"It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do," Prummell said. "I don't wish it upon anybody."

Wilson, who Prummell said started his law-enforcement job about the same time as the sheriff, worked in the jail, road patrol, narcotics street crimes and as a school resource officer.

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Wendy Rose said the agency's SWAT team sent some personnel and its "BearCat" armored protection vehicle. A tactical robot was used to help search for the suspect, she said.

Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight said Wilson's death touches everyone in law enforcement.

"At times like this words honestly seem inadequate," Knight said. "The work we perform each day is inherently dangerous and deputies never know what they are going to find when going to work each day or responding to a call. Today we are dealing with that horrendous reality."

The flag outside the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office was at half staff Tuesday. The deputies inside wore black mourning bands across their badges.

The viewing for Wilson is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center, 75 Taylor St. in Punta Gorda.

The funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Event Center.

The only other line-of-duty death in the county's 92-year history occurred in April 1983, when Deputy Curtis Moore, a motorcycle officer, died as a result of injuries sustained in an on-duty traffic crash.

<p><em>CHARLOTTE COUNTY</em> - The first Charlotte County sheriff's deputy to be shot and killed in the line of duty was "immediately met with gunfire" from a man known as a marksman while responding to a domestic disturbance call, officials said.</p><p>Sgt. Michael Wilson, 42, a 22-year veteran of the sheriff's office and father of three young children, was fatally shot Monday night at the Lakes of Tuscana Apartments in Port Charlotte.</p><p>Wilson, the first officer to arrive in response to the emergency call, was shot in the stairwell of the complex about 8:30 p.m, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said during an emotional news conference Tuesday.</p><p>He was able to call for assistance after being hit but Wilson was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities said the shooter, 49-year-old Jay Vanko, later killed himself.</p><p>"Wilson took one shot to the chest," Prummell said. "The suspect shot down the stairwell and was able to shoot one exposed spot not covered by his vest."</p><p>The sheriff described the stairwell as a "fatal funnel."</p><p>Deputies had been to the scene before on domestic calls but not for anything violent.</p><p>The unidentified emergency caller indicated that there were weapons in the residence, but said they were locked in a safe. There were no indications that weapons were involved in the disturbance that was described as physical, or that the suspect was armed.</p><p>Little is known about Vanko. He had no criminal record that sheriff's investigators could find. He ran a lawn care company in Port Charlotte, and declared bankruptcy in 2011. </p><p>Prummell said Vanko participated in shooting competitions. Vanko's wife was in the apartment at the time of the shooting and his son was outside.</p><p>Investigators found two weapons in the apartment and are still trying to determine which was used on Wilson. Prummell would not elaborate on the type of weapons found.</p><p>The sheriff said he notified Wilson's wife, Joanne, of the shooting.</p><p>"It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do," Prummell said. "I don't wish it upon anybody."</p><p>Wilson leaves behind three school-age children: Emily, Tyler and Brandon.</p><p>Wilson, who Prummell said started his law-enforcement job about the same time as the sheriff, worked in the jail, road patrol, narcotics street crimes and as a school resource officer.</p><p>Sarasota County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Wendy Rose said the agency's SWAT team sent some personnel and its "BearCat" armored protection vehicle. A tactical robot was used to help search for the suspect, she said.</p><p>Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight said Wilson's death touches everyone in law enforcement.</p><p>"At times like this words honestly seem inadequate," Knight said. "The work we perform each day is inherently dangerous and deputies never know what they are going to find when going to work each day or responding to a call. Today we are dealing with that horrendous reality."</p><p>The flag outside the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office was at half staff Tuesday. The deputies inside wore black mourning bands across their badges.</p><p>The viewing for Wilson is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center, 75 Taylor St. in Punta Gorda. </p><p>The funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Event Center.</p><p>The only other line-of-duty death in the county's 92-year history occurred in April 1983, when Deputy Curtis Moore, a motorcycle officer, died as a result of injuries sustained in an on-duty traffic crash.</p><p><empty></p><p><empty></p><p><empty></p>